Singapore ranks world No. 4 for life expectancy

Elderly men react during a game of checkers at the void deck of Block 179 Toa Payoh Central on 26 May, 2013. Singapore has the fourth-best life expectancy rate in the world, latest World Health Organisation (WHO) figures reveal. -- ST FILE PHOTO: MARK CHEONG

By Salma Khalik Senior Health Correspondent

SINGAPORE has the fourth-best life expectancy rate in the world, latest World Health Organisation (WHO) figures reveal.

Average life expectancy at birth stood at 82 years in 2011, making it a joint fourth with Italy.

Women here can expect to live to 85 and men to the age of 80.

The top three countries were Japan - which has a female life expectancy of 86 and a male life expectancy of 82 - Switzerland and San Marino.